A weekend amongst friends

We had such a fun weekend with our friends the Taylors. Scott, Danielle and Ainsley (who just turned 1) came in early Friday (1:30 am) from Knoxville TN. It has been since Thanksgiving that we have all been together, so we had an awesome time. The boys got to spend some time golfing and the four adults got a WONDERFUL date night thanks to a couple sets of grandparents (thank you mom and Janie and John). But my favorite part was just hanging out around the house watching the kids interact. Libby and Ainsley got along really well-they even shared.

Scott's favorite part of the weekend was playing with Libby's blocks. Unfortunately, he never got very far because Libby always knocked down his castle. Above is the building constructed while Libby ate her breakfast.


Libby moments after Scott finished his building

There was a lot of eating, a lot of coffee (kids don't sleep in even when their parents are up late) and just great time spent together. My new favorite photo of Joe. He looks like his Daddy and apparently he sleeps just like his Daddy too.

I love these kids

Our CHUBBY child

Corey and I both agree that we have a couple of pretty awesome kids. Libby has this enormous personality that puts a smile on our faces (even when she is being defiant). And Joe is new, but he's ours and he's adorable. The way Libby interacts with him is priceless! She loves to hold him-Joe not so much as the picture shows. But the next second she forgets that he exists. Oh to have the mind of a 2 year old! Needless to say, despite the lack of sleep, we love being parents to this pair. It is the hardest and best thing in our lives and we are SO blessed!

Our Little Man is getting BIG!

A quick update on Joe! We went in for a weight check yesterday and Joe weighs 10 pounds 4 ounces. He gained a whopping 44 ounces in 14 days. No more weight checks for Joe, he's growing just fine. I'll post pictures soon.

Libby's Party

Most of our family came together on Saturday to celebrate Libby's birthday. It was so much fun this year because you could actually see how excited she was! Her favorite part of the day was the balloons! She came in the basement and her eyes got really big and she yelled "BOONS!"

Then she saw the slide that Gamma Candy got for her and she was in heaven.
She enjoyed seeing all her relatives-especially Claire! I don't think we could pull anything off without Claire-she is Libby's favorite person!

My grandparents were able to make it up from Charleston and the visit served the duel purpose of Libby's birthday and their first glance at Joe. My grandma held him the whole day practically and he loved it!

Joe and Great Grandpa Jim. They are a cute pair!

All in all, Libby's day was super special. She got all kinds of awesome new toys and DVDs and books etc. Her big gifts were a sandbox and slide and table and chairs and swing. I think she'll be entertained the rest of the summer! But she also got some cute outfits and lots of things to color with (Thank you Aunt Kerri). MeMe and Pappy began our Disney collection of DVD's with Robin Hood (Corey's choice) and The Little Mermaid. It may take a few years to enjoy them, but they will last a lifetime! Aunt Casey made Libby a book of our family - and forgot to bring it :) - but I know Libby will love looking at pictures of her favorite people. Casey and the family also got her the cutest fake food. Libby is all about her kitchen and cooking the fake food! It is hilarious!!

Thank you everyone for all that you did to make Libby's day special. She is a great gal and she loves you all!

Happy Birthday to You Libby

To my little girl on her second birthday,



Before you were born, we spent months in agony wondering if we would ever hold you or know you. We spent our time praying for a miracle. On July 11 2006 at 9:09 a.m. we got one. And I think if there is one thing that you should know on your birthday it is that you were worth all the tears, the bed rest, the hospitalization, the pain and uncertainty. You are worth so much more than that!

And today we celebrate YOU! In a way your birthday is a milestone for our whole community. You belong to us all because everyone prayed for you. Everyone we know-and a lot of people that we don't know- came together to surround you with prayer. And today we celebrate God answering those prayers.

And at 2 you are quite a child! You play hard-you love to be outside and in the water (as long as it isn't cold), you love books and music. You have a huge vocabulary that is expanding everyday. You love TV - Blue's Clues and Yo Gabba Gabba are your favorite. You know all the characters and some of the dances that they do. Your favorite foods are french fries and raisins, but you eat just about anything. You get up early - usually by 6:00 - but you take naps and go to bed without a word. If you wake up in the night, daddy rocks you and you go back to sleep. You love your new brother. You ask to hold him and then you "gickle gickle" him. When you decide to do something it gets done. You decided to start walking and now you can use your walker to walk anywhere and you can take 3 steps by yourself. There is so much to you that I can't put it in one post, but it is sufficient to say that you are amazing.

I love you and hope that this is a really happy birthday!

Our little man and big girl

Well today was good in so many ways. Joe went to the doctor and he is doing great. He weighs 7 pounds 8 ounces (a full pound over his birth weight) and everything else looks good too.




Also today, Libby decided to walk. Not far or for long, but a few steps at a time. She stands all by herself and takes up to 3 steps at a time! She did this over and over to the applause of mommy and daddy. She is bound and determined to prove everyone wrong. It was an awesome thing to witness.